NEW DELHI: Following successive terrorist attacks in India and its neighbouring countries, a fresh question mark has been raised over the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG). Australia’s pullout from the Davis Cup tie in Chennai and the relocation of the Indian Premier League to South Africa seem to have thrown up a few issues for the CWG organisers. 
Security has suddenly become a big concern for all foreign teams travelling to south Asia, following the attacks in Mumbai in November last year and on the Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore this March. Although the situation in India is much better than in Pakistan, the new national government will have to really convince the 70 participating countries that it would be safe to travel to Delhi to take part in the Oct 3-14, 2010 extravaganza.
BIG BUDGET FOR SECURITY
The government seems to be already seized of the issue. According to an estimate, India would spend Rs 2.77 billion or even more on security alone. This budget will, in all likelihood, go up by the time the Games are held. The organisers will also be involving Australian private security experts Intelligent Risk, besides the Delhi Police.
Delhi Police will have the prime responsibility to ensure that the Games are held peacefully and incident-free. Its current force is pegged at around 64,000 and it plans to take the strength to 78,000 specifically with an eye on the Games. With multiple layers of security thrown around them, athletes will not be able to enjoy themselves much or explore the city, but they will at least be able to freely compete.
The CWG is different from the IPL or a Davis Cup tie because the government was not directly responsible for these two events. It is for the Games. Unlike the IPL or the Davis Cup tie, events like the Asian Games or the CWG are organised on behalf of the government and thus the government of the day has full responsibility to provide the security cover and other amenities to the athletes and officials.
Delhi Traffic Police will also have an important role to play during the Games. It plans to impart training to the personnel working at key locations in association with Delhi Tourism/ITDC. They propose to train the relevant stakeholders, such as drivers of auto-rickshaws, taxis and buses etc.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
The volunteer programme has been an important aspect of big events like the Olympic Games, CWG and other events held abroad. It is a new concept in India, where there is no precedent to draw from.
But the Delhi CWG organising committee is banking heavily on the volunteer programme to help make the Games a success. It has projected the requirement of around 25,000 volunteers, drawn from colleges, National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, Scouts & Guides and other institutions, who will be posted at various venues/locations in the city.
Of these, around 8,700 are to be utilised by the Delhi Police for traffic regulation, management of pedestrian traffic flow at and around the venues, security support, queue formation, help desks, parking assistance, frisking etc. But the volunteers – who do selfless service without expecting anything in return – is new concept to India and that’s why many are sceptical about its success.
Delhi’s civic amenities will also have to improve considerably to make a presentable picture before the world audience. The roads, flyovers, electricity and water supply, metro rail and bus service etc. will have to improve several notches to live up to expectations of the visitors.
